Automatic poultry feeding device



y 1931- M. J. WAREK 1,804,239

AUTOMATIC POULTRY FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 17431072 cLeZ CZ-F0349?!) .NVENTOR ATTO R N EY y 1931. M. J. WAREK I 1,804,239

AUTOMATIC POULTRY FEEDING DEVICE Filed Nov. 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 JMichaeZEZWaY'eW INVENTOR ATTO R N EY y 1931. M. J. WAREK 1,804,239

' AUTOMATIC POULTRY FEEDING DEVICE Filed NOV. 2, 1927 3 Sheds-Sheet 5 K," II

.Mzl ehael cIWar e11 VENTQR ATTORNEY Patented May 5, 1931 '7 154 23;

MICI-IAE-L J. WAREZ Z, F PLAINS, PENNSYLVANIA AUTOMATIC POULTRY FEEDING DEVICE Application filed November 2, 1927. Serial No. 230,616.

This invention relates to an automatic ing material will pass through the holes and poultry feeding device, the general object of drop under the scattering device, while the the invention being to provide means for permain body of the material will drop from the mitting feed to drop from a hopper upon a edges of the scattering device. scattering device at predetermined intervals A pair 01"- uprights 6 have their lower ends of time so that feed will be furnished to the adjustably connected with the scattering depoultry automatically at stated int rvals vice and their upper ends support a hopper 7 without manual aid, except that the hopper which is provic with a conical-shaped botmust be refilled from time to time. tom having its lower end out ofi" to provide 1 Another object or the invention is to prothe outlet opening 8. A rod 9 passes through vide means for regulating the time at which a centrally arranged sleeve 10 in the hopper the device will operate so that the feed will and through the central portion of the scatbe scattered every hour every half hour or tering device and a valve member 11 has its at any other suitable period of time. hub part 12 fastened to the lower portion of 15 A further object of the invention is to prothe rod, a tiltable valve member 13 having a vice a normally closed valve for the hopper, hole its center considerably larger than the with magnetic means for opening the valve hub, resting upon the valve member 11, with and a clock having means associated thereits hole passing over the hub. A coil spring with for controlling the circuit of the mag 14 is placed on the rod between the valve 20 netic means. member 11 and the apex of the scattering This invention also consists in certain member, though I prefer to attach a V- other features of construction and in the shaped brace 15 to the lower end of the hopcombination and arrangement of the several per and to provide the bight of the same with parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illusboss 16 which enters an opening in the apex trated in the accompanying drawings and of the scattering member and which receives specifically pointed out in the appended the end of the valve stem 9 so that the hopclaim. per and its valve parts can be lifted off the In describing my invention in detail, refscattering member and the parts will remain erence will be had to the accompanying in place. The hopper is provided with a false 30 drawings wherein like characters denote like bottom of conical shape, as shown at 17, for

or corresponding parts throughout the sevpreventing the full weight of the feed maeral views, and in which terial in the hopper from coming against the Figure 1 is an elevation of the device. valve members, as the spring is relied upon Figure 2 is a plan view thereof. to hold the valve members inclosed position. 35 Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view By having thetiltable member 13, this memthrough the upper portion or the device. her will adjust itself to permit grains of large Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view dimensions to pass from one side of the hopshowing the valve in open position. per opening while grains of smaller dimen- Figures 5 and 6 are views of the circuit sions are passing through the opposite side controlling means on the clock. thereof. I v

In these views, 1 indicates a scattering de- 1 provide magnetic means for opening the vice which is supported in elevated position valve, the support for such means being by the legs 2, this device being of substanshown at 18. Such support is carried by a tially conical form, with rounded wings 3 post 19 adjustable as to its length, as shown at each corner thereof to increase the scatterat 20 and having its lower end slidably coning effect. Holes i are formed in the device neoted with the scattering member through and the metal cut to form the holes is bent the pin and slot connection shown generally upwardly at the lower edges of the holes to at 21. The magnet is shown at 22 and the form stops 5 to direct some of the material armature arm at 23, this arm being pivoted 5% through the holes. Thus some of the feedto a part of the support and being normally held with its inner end raised by means of an adjustable spring 24 which connects the outer end of the arm with a part of the support. A set screw 25 is carried by the inner end of the arm and is adapted to engage a disk 26 fastened to the upper end of the valve stem or rod. The usual make and break means 27 are used to give the arm an oscillatory movement as long as the current is on.

A battery B is electrically connected with one terminal of the magnetic means and the framework of a clock U is electrically connected with the other terminal of the magnetic means. A transparent plate 28 of nonconducting material is placed over the face the clock and carries a central terminal 29 which is electrically connected with the battery. llllOVSlDlQ arms 30 have their inner ends pivotally connected with said terminal and stationary termin ls 31 are carried by the plate 28 and are a anted to be engaged by the outer ends of the )8 when the arms are moved to a certain posit- The inner ends of the terminals 31 carry spring contacts 32 which are adapted to be engaged by a spring contact 83 on ti 1 minute hand 3% of the clock. Thus during the revolution of the minute hand, the contact strip will contact with all the strips 32 of the terminals 31, but unless an arm 80 is in engagement with a terminal 31, nothing will happen. If an arm 30 is in engagement with a terminal 31', however, the current to the magnetic means will be closed through the central terminal the arm 30, terminal 31, strip 32 and strip on the'minute hand, through the frame of the clock to the magnetic means. Current will continue to flow to the magnetic means as long the strip on the minute hand is in engagement with a strip of a terminal 31 and as the magnetic means are provided with the usual make and break device, the valve will be opened and closed quite a number of times before the circuit is closed. Thus a quantity of feed will pass from the hopper over the scattering device, which will scatter it in the litter around and under the device. By having some of the feed drop through the scattering device, the fowls will scratch in the litter under the device as well as that to the sides thereof. By having the disk 26 on the top of the valve rod, the magnetic means will engage the disk even though the parts are slightly out of alignment.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this device will furnish feed to the poultry at predetermined intervals so that it is not necessary to have an attendant to feed the poultry, though, of course, the hopper must be refilled whenever necessary. The clock can beset to cause the device to come into operation at any desired time so that the poultry can be fed at any desired time. The parts are adjustable to secure the most eflicient operation and by having the uprights 6 and 19 adjustably connected with the scattering device, hoppers of different sizes can be used with the device.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combi nation and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is A poultry feeding device comprising a hopper iaving a discharge opening therein, a valve for controlling the opening and includ ing a stem extending through the hopper, a bracket arm supported by the upper end of the hopper and projec ing horizontally therefrom, a support arranged beneath the hopper, a post including relatively adjustable sections connecting the bracket arm with the support, a magnet mounted upon the bracket arm, an armature arm therefor mounted for pivotal movementon said bracket arm, a spring connecting one end of the armature arm with the adjacent end of said bracket arm and normally maintaining one end of the armature spaced above the valve stem, and a circuit for the magnet, whereby movement of the armature arm will cause an opening and closin g movement of the valve.

in testimony whereof I alfi my signature.

MICHAEL J. VVAREK.

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